November 2014
November activities calendars inside
Loads of photos and news from October!
Editorial Welcome to the November edition of Community News! Can you believe it?! The year is almost at an end and Christmas is right around the corner. The Hunter Valley Care community has had a wonderful year filled with great activities, events and celebrations, and November will be no exception! This month, we take a look at some great happy-snaps from Fig Tree Point, catch up on a whole lot of news from The Sanctuary and Amaroo, and have a sneak peek at the Christmas celebrations planned at Waterview. Also inside are some interesting Melbourne Cup facts to get you ready for race day. Stay tuned next month for recaps of our facilities’ Cup activities!
Hunter Valley Care COMMUNITY NEWS is a monthly newsletter published by the Hunter Valley Care Family to promote communication with our residents, their families, our staff and the wider community. For more information contact Kate Austen: kate@hvcare.com.au Claire Bradshaw: claire@hvcare.com.au
As usual, there’s some fascinating characters to read about in our staff and resident profiles. We meet AIN Sharna Smith of Fig Tree Point and long-time HVC bus driver Scott Fielding, as well as a couple of fantastically interesting residents: Winifred Scoles, a gorgeous former actress from Fig Tree Point, and fittingly for Melbourne Cup month, former jockey Bill Wade of Amaroo! Be sure to look out next month for our BUMPER end-of-year issue, which will feature some flashbacks from our facilities’ favourite moments of 2014, a rundown of December activities, and a look at what’s ahead in 2015. Enjoy!
Clare Wiggins from Amaroo is introduced to staff member Nina’s newborn baby at a baby shower in September.
Hunter Valley Care strives to set the future direction for life choices in the Hunter region.
Have you clicked ‘Like’ on the Hunter Valley Care Facebook page yet? If not, head over and do so today to get HVC pics, news and updates in your feed! Visit www.facebook.com/HunterValleyCare and help us build up our online community. 2
We actively seek feedback from residents in our care as well as their families; this is a fundamental element that drives ongoing improvement to the quality of the services we offer.
For feedback contact us: Head Office Street: 78 York Street, Teralba NSW 2284 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4955 6400 Fax: (02) 4955 6411 Email: helen@elss.com.au
HVC Resident Profile
Bill Wade In the spirit of celebrating all things racing, this month we introduce you to ex-jockey and Amaroo resident, Bill Wade. Born in Bellbird, near Cessnock, Bill was riding from as young as ten years old. On a mate’s suggestion, he tried out exercising horses for Harold Judge of Maitland. Bill took to it immediately and was quickly taken on by Judge, but he had to wait until he was 14 to officially start as an apprentice! His first race was just one year later when he was 15, which seems very young by today’s standards. Bill said he couldn’t afford to be nervous – there was just too much to think about! While he didn’t come first that day, it only took a couple more races before he rode his first winner.
He describes this as a great experience and he made many wonderful, lifelong friends. Bill, Olga and their first baby spent a wonderful 12 months overseas, until homesickness finally drew them back to NSW. Throughout the course of his career Bill and his family also lived in Maitland, Mayfield, Moree, Tamworth and eventually Newcastle. They had two children, John and Sue. Unsurprisingly, both children learned to ride horses well. In fact, John followed in the footsteps of his father and went on to be a champion jockey himself, winning the Golden Slipper Stakes on Newcastle horse Luskin Star in 1977.
Bill went on to have a very successful career in racing, including winning nearly every country cup in NSW. He also racked up a few kilometres, travelling over 20,000km a year to make all his riding engagements. As you can imagine, Bill must have met a lot of people in his travels, but it was a lady named Olga, working in the “Gum Leaf” cake shop in Maitland, who finally caught his eye. They married in 1949 and Olga went on to be his faithful driver and travelling companion throughout his career. In the early 1950s Bill was offered an amazing opportunity to ride in Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
Bill’s career eventually ended in 1972 with a fall at Gunnedah. He was unconscious for over a week and upon waking, required therapy to learn to walk and talk again. I imagine the upside to ending this incredibly exciting (but dangerous and physically demanding) profession was that he could finally partake in his wife’s cooking creations! By all accounts Olga was renowned
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for her baking. The fact that Bill resisted for so long proves what a disciplined character he must have been! Bill’s achievements in the racing world have not gone unnoticed. The NSW Jockey Club has a Bill Wade medal, which is awarded every year at the Newcastle Spring Carnival to the jockey with the best progressive strike rate on the Newcastle track. Bill still attends this celebration every year. Racing has truly been a lifelong passion for Bill, and after he gave up riding he was to train horses for the better part of a decade. These days he still follows the races, including the different trainers and horses, and occasionally gets to the track. (Though not quite as often as he would like!) Racing aside, Bill has another legacy that he can be even more proud of: he has seven grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren! We’re sure they are all very proud of his achievements, and likewise, all of us at Hunter Valley Care are grateful that this wonderful gentleman is part of our community. KA
HVC Staff Profile
Sharna Smith couldn’t operate as efficiently and effectively as they do, so this month we’re proud to introduce you to the lovely Sharna Smith, another of our important AIN team members!
Assistants In Nursing (or AINs) play an integral role in the running of all Hunter Valley Care facilities. As well as providing support to nursing staff, their job also involves direct care of residents, accurate recordkeeping and collection of healthcare information, and communicating with residents on a daily basis to ensure all aspects of their health and comfort are being met. It’s safe to say that without AINs, modern care facilities just
Sharna has been an AIN at Toronto’s Fig Tree Point for nearly six years. She grew up in picturesque Ellalong, just south of Cessnock, NSW. By the sound of things, Ellalong was a pretty great town to grow up in. Sharna recalls a happy childhood of swimming in the lagoon and riding her push bike all around the town where she knew everyone, including aunties, uncles and cousins. As a young adult, Sharna studied to be an AIN at Cessnock. After completing her first placement at Rathmines, she came straight to Fig Tree Point and has been here ever since! Sharna loves working in aged care, and in particular getting to know all of the different personalities that make up the Fig Tree Point
community. Spending so much time with the residents has led her to think of them all as family. Indeed, the residents have spent the last six years following Sharna’s own progress: “They know all my business!” she laughs. They have watched Sharna’s daughter, now almost 11, grow up. “They love hearing about her,” Sharna says. Recently, Sharna has commenced studies to gain her nursing registration, and says that her Fig Tree Point family has been very supportive. With her proven experience as an AIN, plus her brilliant work ethic and positive attitude, we are sure she will one day make an amazing RN. It’s no wonder the cheerful and hardworking Sharna is a favourite with the residents. The staff at Hunter Valley Care are also proud to have her as a valued member of our team, and we look forward to witnessing her achievements in the coming years. KA
Remembrance Day They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Every year, November 11th marks Remembrance Day: the anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I. More than just an anniversary, the day is an occasion to remember and pay respects to all men and women who have served, fought and lost their lives in wars and armed conflicts.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
This year, we will commemorate Remembrance Day’s 96th anniversary with special services at all facilities, including hymns and readings, wreath-laying, The Last Post, and a minute’s silence at 11:00am. Our residential veterans will be recognised, as will all those who have gone before us.
We will remember them. Lest we forget. 4
HVC Resident Profile
Winifred Scoles The first thing you notice when you walk into the room of Fig Tree Point’s Winifred Scoles is an enormous and glamorous photo of her as a bride. There is a funny story behind the photo: originally it had spent many years on display in the window of a professional photographer’s shop in Sydney’s southern suburbs. On closure of the shop, the photo must have been given to Winifred’s mother, as Winifred’s husband discovered it behind her china cabinet after she passed away. He had it reframed and presented it to Winifred, who had never before laid eyes on it! Kind of a belated wedding present – what a romantic soul he must have been! These days, at 91, Winifred still has an air of glamour
about her. Perhaps some of this can be attributed to her upbringing. Raised in Sydney’s Rockdale region with one brother throughout the Great Depression, Winifred’s mother always made sure there was two shilling available for Winifred’s elocution classes. She spent her childhood competing in eisteddfods, and must have done quite well; upon leaving school she attended the Minerva Academy of Theatre, which was a four-year course. Winifred went on to have a successful career in Australian theatre and film, experiencing all the excitement and dazzle this entailed in the 1940s. She must have met some interesting characters along the way, and according to Fig Tree Point staff, Winifred has some great photos to share and stories to tell of this time in her life. One of Winifred’s many loves was ballroom dancing, and it was here she met her husband-tobe, Noel Scoles. Winifred and Noel (who was born on Christmas Day) were married in 1948, and went on to have four sons. Winifred recalls what it was like to live in a house with five males – something most of us can’t imagine! Although she was greatly outnumbered, she affectionately describes
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her husband as an extremely gentle man who brought up four beautiful, gentle boys. The other thing she was grateful for was the pool out the back of their Longueville family home. This was essential in keeping all those boys busy and absorbing much of their abundant energy! These days Winifred has a challenging time trying to keep up with all her grandchildren! In her beautiful room at Fig Tree Point, there are many (smaller) photos to compete with the big bridal portrait, and they are all of her large family over the years. There are even a few greatgrandchildren! Winifred loves life at Fig Tree Point, and describes everyone as very kind, happy and helpful. She is such a lovely, friendly lady herself, and if you visit, she will happily show you pictures of Noel: love of her life and handsome husband. Like us, you may think that back in the day, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a better-looking couple! How lucky we are to have such a good-natured and interesting lady as Winifred Scoles as part of our little Fig Tree Point community! KA
HVC Staff Profile
Scott Fielding often carried out in 40-degree heat. Despite the physically demanding nature of the job, Scott enjoyed it, which is probably why he remained there for almost 15 years!
While the majority of people who work at HVC facilities are involved in the nursing side of things, there are plenty who work outside this capacity – and without them, you can be sure things wouldn’t be the same! Two such examples are the wonderful bus drivers who transport our residents to all their outings. In our September edition, we featured a short story by Don Meloche – so now it’s time to meet another driver who’s well known around all our facilities: Scott Fielding. Scott was born and bred in Whitebridge, attending Whitebridge High School until the age of 15. He then left school and found a job at the woolsheds – hard work that was
When Scott began working for Hunter Valley Care back in 1995, he was a ‘meal runner’, delivering meals around the community every second night. After doing this for around seven years, he returned from a holiday and was promptly asked whether he’d be interested in driving the facility buses. He accepted, and has been a favourite amongst residents and staff ever since! (In fact, we’ve heard a few cheeky tales about him from Waterview’s Activities Officer, Kerry…but Scott assures us they’re not all to be believed – and says he could tell a few tales about Kerry, too!) Like most staff members, Scott says the best part of his job is interacting with the residents. He loves listening to all their different stories, learning about their past occupations and life journeys, and hearing about how different life was all those years ago. Another great perk is the lovely range of destinations he gets to
Melbourne Cup On Tuesday, November 4th, residents and staff alike will celebrate ‘the race that stops a nation’ with bets, games, entertainment, fashion parades and more! Pausing at 3pm to watch the main event, all our facilities will be having loads of fun before and after the race as well. You’ll find a full breakdown and photos of the day’s activities in next month’s magazine, but for now, read on to learn some interesting facts about the Cup.
visit on resident outings. In fact, when we spoke to him, he’d just returned from a beautiful excursion to Newcastle Harbour, where he enjoyed watching the boats come in with a group of Waterview residents and AO Kerry. Some of Scott’s other favourite places to visit have included Budgewoi, The Entrance, Morpeth and Shelly Beach, to name just a few. In his spare time, Scott enjoys playing golf, trying to improve his game whenever he gets the chance. He’s also a family man, with a wife, two sons and a daughter. They’re quite the diverse family in terms of occupations: Scott’s wife Debbie works for the police service completing audits; eldest son Luke works in marketing for an American company, and younger son Adam has recently gained qualifications in IT; and his youngest, Brianna, is currently completing her HSC and has already tried her hand in both the tourism and health industries. We can see why Scott’s so proud of them! And we’re sure they’re proud of him too: he’s an all-around great guy who does a wonderful job of making bus trips a true highlight for all our residents. CB
●● Since 1882, New Zealand-bred horses have dominated the event, winning 40 Melbourne Cups in total! British-bred horses have won five, American-bred horses four, Irish-bred horses three and French- and Japanese-bred horses one apiece. ●● The record for fastest winning time was set by Kingston Rule in 1990, with a time of 3 minutes, 16 seconds. ●● Talk about defying the odds – three horses have won with 100:1 odds stacked against them! ●● The winner of the very first Melbourne Cup received a gold watch as a prize; today, the winner’s trophy contains 1.65 kg of 18-carat gold and is valued at $125,000. ●● The ‘Fashions on the Field’ requirement that race goers don elegant hats and fascinators almost single-handedly keeps Melbourne’s milliners in business.
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Weight Loss Support Group
Hunter Nature
We need you! Well to be perfectly honest, we need each other. I can’t do it on my own, and I don’t think I’m the only one either. But together: ah together, we can do this! What am I talking about? I am talking about achieving a healthy body, mind and soul. Too big? OK – how about some support and discussion that might help us get closer to a healthier me, you, and us? We can do this!
Cicadas Cicadidae (200 species) It’s almost that time of year when the tree trunks of the Hunter region will become scattered with empty cicada shells, and cicadas will fill the branches with their deafening and unmistakable drone.
How about we meet together once a week, bringing along recipes and ideas for discussion about healthy eating, nutrition and achieving an active lifestyle? How about we support each other, making commitments to be accountable to each other in a non-judgemental way? How about we tell each other our goals and dreams – not ‘I want to be 60kgs’, but ‘I want to be able to run with my grandchildren’, ‘I want to ride a bike with my son’, or ‘I want to dance with my partner and not become exhausted after the first bar of music’? How about we create a group of people where everyone’s goal is as important to the next person as their own? Well? How about it?
Cicadas are the loudest insect in the world, with the call of some species cracking 120 decibels. This is loud enough to be painful to the human ear! And whether you love them or hate them, one thing is for certain: on a good year you can’t ignore them! All this racket can be blamed on the boys, as only male cicadas sing in an attempt to attract a mate. Mind you, we shouldn’t really begrudge these iconic insects a little raucous revelry, as they do spend the majority of their lives in the dark, buried several feet under the ground.
I have a great opportunity for you! Let’s meet together regularly at Fig Tree Point from around the middle of January. Please contact me with your ideas, your interest and most of all your dreams. Let’s all dream together! It’s so much better than dreaming on your own.
Female cicadas take to trees to lay their eggs, which hatch into small, wingless nymphs that drop to the ground and burrow below the surface. Here they live anywhere from two to seven years (depending on the species), feeding on the sap of tree roots and shedding their skins periodically as they grow.
Look forward to hearing from you soon, Jan. Janette Lloyd, RN Fig Tree Point Ph: 0417 210 609
Upon reaching their final nymphal stage, the cicadas burrow to the surface with their specially adapted front digging legs, climb a tree or fence post, and shed their skin for the last time. The adult cicada emerges with wings and flies off leaving the last nymphal skin behind – to the delight of children Hunter-wide! The adult life of a cicada is comparatively very short – only a few weeks. This brief stage is spent feeding on plant sap with straw-like mouthparts (cicadas cannot bite), breeding the next generation of little cicada nymphs, and singing their notorious love-songs! And who knows – perhaps they are also singing with joy at finally being able to appreciate the beautiful sunshine. After spending years underground, I reckon I’d feel like singing too!
...…The Ford Falcon was the newest thing on the block? This ad from the October 1960 edition of The Australian Women’s Weekly highlights just how much things have changed, advertising “headroom to spare for hats; foam-cushioning; richly-grained vinyls and luxurious nylon fabrics... two ashtrays; coat hooks; cigarette lighter...” 7
The Sanctuary - news and views! It’s been a busy time at The Sanctuary recently, so we’ve decided to stop, take a breather and catch up on a bit of news from the past couple of months! Renovations continue and are now close to completion on Unit 6 at the top of The Sanctuary estate, where five more gorgeous suites will soon be available. This will be followed closely by the release of Unit 7, where another six new suites will be opened. Both Units 6 and 7 have gorgeous views down the northward facing valley, and are surrounded by large rose gardens and an established vegetable garden. We can’t wait to see them finished! The buildings aren’t the only new additions to The Sanctuary: from December, we will be publishing a monthly calendar of events to assist residents, families and friends with planning their social events. To give readers an idea of a few items that will feature on the calendar, The Sanctuary now has an in-house podiatrist who will visit regularly for the convenience and comfort of residents. In addition, one of our lovely family members is organising a movie afternoon every second Tuesday. We think this is a fantastic idea, and look forward to enjoying a movie in the company of family and friends, perhaps while indulging in some afternoon tea and a few movie treats. Popcorn and choc-tops, anyone? Coming up in November, The Sanctuary is hosting a big event for the Melbourne Cup. Residents, family and friends are all invited to partake in a sweepstake, fashions on the field, a swish champagne luncheon, an information session from COTA, and a live, televised viewing of all things racing! The festivities will begin at 11am and finish...well, we’ll let you know! In other news, resident Flo Dorrington celebrated
her birthday last month, and she enjoyed a visit from various out-of-town family members who stayed a couple of nights. We would retrospectively like to wish Flo a happy birthday, and take this opportunity to remind you that accommodation is available at The Sanctuary for visiting families and friends. The rate is very affordable and includes The Sanctuary’s famous home-cooked meals. (The bird song and tranquillity is free!) Contact The Sanctuary for more information on 02 4947 1010. Recently, some residents at The Sanctuary have been utilising a fantastic service through Red Cross, where volunteers from the Community Visitors Scheme join residents in outings to the movies, shopping, reading, knitting, etc. This beneficial service provides residents with an additional social connection to the community. Spring has also seen The Sanctuary’s herb garden taking off, thanks to staff member Kerry, and rumour has it there is a fairy garden in the process. Whilst ideas are still consolidating, the outcome will be a nice, shady, outdoor space where residents can sit in comfort surrounded by lovely things. We look forward to watching the evolution of this space in the coming months. We may even pop in for a spot of comfort and tranquillity ourselves! Staff and residents are also discussing the possibility of an in-house cafe, so watch this space.
The beautiful, flat garden area between Unit 6 & 7, where renovations are almost complete.
Style-savvy seniors: a new documentary Stylish, glamorous, vibrant and fabulous: if you think these words don’t apply to those over the age of 60, then you had better think again! Seniors can be some of the most fashionable people you’ll ever meet, and that’s just what new documentary Advanced Style sets out to prove. Based on a famous blog of the same name, Advanced Style showcases the lives of seven wonderful New York women,
aged 62–95, who have each approached the ageing process with their own unique spirit and sense of style. These chic fashionistas are living proof that age is just a number, and that beauty, passion and personality are eternal. The film is currently only screening in capital cities, but if any residents are interested in viewing it, please ask an Activities Officer about downloading a copy. 8
(Speaking of style… we’re looking forward to seeing plenty of our residents donning their trendiest headpieces on the catwalk for our Melbourne Cup fashion parades! Stay tuned for photos in next month’s Community News.)
Bus trips and boat cruises - Fig Tree Point news. Residents and staff from Fig Tree Point have enjoyed some splendid activities over the last month or two, in particular some really great bus trips and even a few cruises. Despite it being dark and stormy the day residents bussed it to Nelson Bay for a dolphin cruise, everyone had a fantastic day on the boat. There may have been a few queasy moments (Yvonne? Win? Scott?), but the trip out to the heads was relatively calm and a few dolphins were even spotted! Nelson Bay was also visited on another day for lunch at the West Nelson Bay Club. Another boat cruise was also enjoyed last month – this time on the beautiful Brisbane Waters. At lunchtime the boat pulled in to pick up some takeaway fish and chips! Another popular full-day bus trip involved a loop around the coastal and lakes district of Lake Macquarie and Wyong Shires, taking in Blacksmiths, Caves Beach, Swansea Channel (for morning tea), Catherine Hill Bay, Cams Wharf, Budgewoi (for lunch), The Entrance, and then back up through Wyee and Morisset! Residents also enjoyed a bus trip out to Pokolbin dessert bar Sabor in the Hunter, where an abundance of desserts were sampled, as well as a few tasty
Fig Tree Point staff members, Greg and Yvonne looking not the least bit concerned about the approaching storm!
wines and ports from the Hunter region! Yum! Other bus trips have been to Stockton Beach for morning tea and Redhead for the afternoon. In other news, nursing home staff and residents have been busy planting over 200 sunflowers outside the activities room and high-care dining room. We are looking forward to a riot of sunshine colour if they all decide to bloom at once! Sunflowers, herbs and tomatoes have also been planted out on the balcony. The plan at this stage is to sell tomatoes to help raise money for extra activities. As well as some great concerts by Alan Walsh, Mel Sommers and Suzy J, the last month or two have also seen some fun theme days at Fig Tree Point, with a Teddy Bears Picnic, a Carnival Day (complete with foods such as fairy floss and hot dogs), an Asian theme day, and finally, our Mexican theme day! See the next couple of pages for photos of these fun events! The weekly playgroup visits continue to attract a regular crowd, and monthly happy hours are an everpopular event on the calendar – especially with the fabulous Des Collins on piano. There is also a men’s group in the planning stages, with perhaps some fishing on the agenda. What we really want to know boys, is will it be catch and release, or fresh fish for dinner?
Firm friends at sea - Muriel, Beryl and Win from Fig Tree Ray enjoying his VB. cruise on Nelson Bay. Point enjoy a dolphin
Getting ready to set sail (or motor!) - Win, Muriel, and Beryl The salty sea-dogs:
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Allan, Scott, Ray and
Yvonne.
In one of the toughest games this year, Fig Tree Point residents got competitive during a game of balloon tennis in October!
, on Hawaiian theme day by all FTP residents ertainers. ent A great day was had al sic mu tic tas g and fan which included dancin
Brian on Hawaiian theme day.
Asian theme day was also celebrated during October.
Asian theme day.
Asian theme day.
Asian theme day.
Asian theme day.
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Fig Tree Point reside nts enjoyed a brilliant bus trip to Sabor De ssert Bar in October.
Sheila enjoying Sabor at Lovedale.
Bus driver Scott at Sabor.
Winifred at Sabor.
Residents and staff spent many weeks preparing masks for Mexican theme day.
Muriel painting her mask for Mexican theme day.
A few afternoons were also spent enjoying the great weather and planting seeds.
The seed planting production line!
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Break time!
Waterview News - Christmas preview. Christmas parties - Waterview is really getting into the Christmas spirit in December, with not one but two Christmas parties planned! The first will be the Hunter, Macquarie and Hostel party on Tuesday, 16th of December, and the second will take place on Ground and First Floors on Thursday, 18th of December. All residents and family members are welcome to attend. Please note that there will be a cost per person for each party, and RSVPs for both parties must be in no later than Friday, 12th of December for catering purposes. For more information, contact Waterview on 4941 7000. We hope to see you there! (P.S. Lucky us – we’ve been given a preview of the Christmas party menu. Our mouths are watering already!)
Waterview Fashion Show and Shoe Party - As well as all their wonderful Christmas celebrations, Waterview also has a fabulous Fashion Show and Shoe Party coming up on Tuesday, 9th December! Starting at 10:00am with the Fashion Show, you may just be able to find that perfect outfit for Christmas Day amongst a selection of women’s clothing and accessories. Morning tea will also be served. The day of fashion and fun will continue at 2:00pm with a Shoe Party, with some fabulous shoe styles on display and a lucky door prize! All residents, family and friends are welcome to attend either or both events. We look forward to seeing you there!
Wate rvi ew Ch ristm as M en u
Christmas raffle - Waterview’s annual Christmas raffle is a big one this year, with five great prizes up for grabs. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. Get in quick and grab some tickets from the Activities Officers for your chance to win something special! 1st prize: Expressi coffee machine, coffee pods and milk frother 2nd prize: DVD player 3rd, 4th and 5th prizes: Christmas hampers loaded with goodies
Entrée
Fresh prawns on a bed of rock salt served w/ tartare sauce Coconut prawns (deep-fried) served w/ fresh prawn sauce
Main
Thinly sliced beef served w/ beef gra vy Fresh chicken pieces on a bed of mix ed rocket leaves served w/ chicken gravy Roast pork with perfect crackling served w/ homemade apple sauce Roast turkey served w/ cranberry sauce and stuffing Sides Fresh garden salad • Potato salad Pasta salad • Coleslaw Fresh fruit platters
Dessert
Plum pudding w/ brandy custard Pavlova w/ fresh cream and fresh fruit
Waterview residents on a bus trip to Kurri Kurri, showing off their Maccas Monopoly Moustaches!
Feeding the birds...
...on a recent bus trip to Raymon
d Terrace.
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Waterview’s grand final mascot was good luck for the Bunnies!
Psssst... special preview:
Waterview Christmas Calendar.
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Amaroo - high teas, baby showers and concerts. Over the last couple of months much of the big news at Charlestown’s Amaroo has been about Bella, the new therapy dog. However, that doesn’t mean everything else has ground to a halt! Bus trips, concerts, games, visits from play-groups, birthdays, arts and crafts, and a new fish tank are just some of the non-Bella-related events in recent times. Below are just a few photos we have been saving for a Bella-free month! In September, a belated baby shower/high tea was held for staff member Nina who brought in her gorgeous newborn baby girl. There’s nothing
nicer than a little baby, and residents and staff alike flocked to congratulate Nina and have a squiz at her irresistible new bub. We also couldn’t resist showing you some recent concert photos featuring a few of Amaroo’s keen dancers. No matter what the occasion is, there’s always a few people who can’t keep still when the beat starts, and we would like to take this opportunity to let them know their lively spirits and zest for life makes us all glow a little inside! Thanks also must go to Amaroo staff member Bettina for many of these beautiful photos.
Trudy and Mario enjoying some music at a recent Amaroo concert.
Sue Oakley always enjoys a dance.
The lovely Ray Taylor is also another regular on the dance floor!
Everyone loves a sleepy baby! (Especially mum.)
Nina and her beautiful baby girl.
Carol Forster meets Nina’s daughter.
Staff member Keirra Allen meets the new baby.
Also at the high-tea baby shower were the following: Shirley Davies.
Betty Weston.
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Also at the high-tea baby shower were the following: Yvonne Younger.
Molly Clewitt.
Myra Cridland.
Eunice Sinclaire.
Introducing
Marmong Waters Estate Marmong Waters Estate is the newest addition to the Hunter Valley Care portfolio, offering a selection of elegant, independent living units surrounding a state-of-the-art Community and Recreation Centre, all on the shores of the picturesque Lake Macquarie. Marmong’s beautifully designed independent living units provide the ultimate modern environment for those who want to downsize from family homes without compromising privacy, freedom of choice or lifestyle options. Your new home will be part of an exclusive community encompassing a range of amenities, while also offering the comfort of 24-hour support. Marmong Waters Estate provides several unique options that will help you truly feel at home, including the opportunity to bring along your four-legged friend – certain areas of the estate will be pet-friendly! Residents have full access to the Community and Recreation Centre,
including BBQs and beautiful outdoor areas, a fully equipped kitchen for functions, health and fitness facilities, an integrated business centre, and more. With its boutique, resort-style design, tranquil setting and close proximity to an abundance of Lake Macquarie attractions, we can’t wait to give future residents the chance to call Marmong Waters Estate home. Marmong Waters Estate luxury Independent Living Units are now selling off the plans. Building is currently in progress, and the first units are expected to be available by June 2015.
For more information, or to register your interest, contact: Helen Wlodarczyk • 0428 777 030 • helen@elss.com.au 15
(Extra Services)
Amaroo Aged Care Facility Street: 66 Dudley Road, Charlestown NSW 2290 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4943 3675 Fax: (02) 4942 3075 Email: reception@amarooagedcare.com.au
The Sanctuary – Independence with Care Street: 31 Tinglewood Close, Tingira Heights NSW 2290 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4947 1010 Fax: (02) 4914 8704 Email: thesanctuary@huntervalleycare.com.au
Fig Tree Point Aged Care Facility Street: 7 Harris Street, Toronto NSW 2283 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4950 4133 Fax: (02) 4950 5078 Email: reception@figtreepoint.com.au
Waterview Aged Care Facility Street: 16 Cumberland Street, Teralba NSW 2284 Post: PO Box 3310 Glendale NSW 2285 Phone: (02) 4941 7000 Fax: (02) 4958 5276 Email: reception@waterviewagedcare.com.au
Are you, or is someone you know, seeking an alternative to residential aged care? offers a boutique assisted living environment for the active and young-at-heart. Located in the quiet, leafy suburb of Tingira Heights, The Sanctuary provides quality group accommodation, where residents are free to maintain their active, independent lifestyle. However, they also enjoy the advantages of companionship and live-in support as needed. It’s the best of both worlds! All of The Sanctuary’s residents enjoy the comfort of a private suite in a beautifully appointed modern house. Residents can choose to prepare their own meals, do their own laundry, clean their own suites, and organise their own appointments and outings – or this can all be done for them. Our flexible staff enable residents to select options that will best suit them on a day-to-day basis. The concept of community living is integral to the design of the Sanctuary and there are many beautiful shared spaces for residents to enjoy. Residents are encouraged to utilise communal lounge and dining areas, quiet outdoor sitting and BBQ areas, and gentle walking paths through the beautiful native gardens.
For more information contact Tez Wrathall p 0450 475 288 • e tez@hvcare.com.au
Suites at The Sanctuary are now available!
SPOTLIGHT ON NOVEMBER ACTIVITIES • • • •
4th Melbourne Cup Quiz and Sweepstakes 10th All Day Bus Trip to Hunter Valley Gardens 12th Starship Cruise – Gosford 23rd Concert: Just Friends
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4th Melbourne Cup: Penny’s Ponies, Concert & High Tea 20th Household Memories 26th All Day Bus Trip 27th Christmas Trivia and Piano Sing-a-Long
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4th Melbourne Cup Theme Day 17th Concert: Peter Cosimo 24th Concert: Bob Thomas 25th Bus outing to Stockton for BBQ lunch